I'm stuck at 1200-1380. Any tips on how to become better?

Hello community. It seems I am not improving. I have a half decent tactics trainer showing in which I maintain a 1500-1680 rating, (which is still weak),  yet my chess games (10 min Blitz predominantly) rating hovers between 1200-1380. The "1200-1380" rating comes from fluctuation and inconsistency. Last year I couldn't break 1100, and now I can't break 1400, though I have broke it a couple of times just to go back down 100 rating points. I have played too many games to be at this rating level. I lose to many players who always have a much lower tactics trainer rating than me, though I'm sure that is due to me doing a lot more problems than them. I struggle against players rated 1400+. Players 1400+ all of a sudden play like f****n grandmasters against me. I know I am not gifted, but I have had some pretty good tactical, and combinative wins that may show some potential, but I just can't pinpoint how to get better and how to understand chess better as a whole.

I guess I also just don't know how to study chess all that great. Any good advice is appreciated. Books, study plans, anything. Also if you feel like you can coach me I'll pay you to help me. I want to understand chess on a high level and I'll do what it takes to get there, but I'd say I'm in need of some guidance.

Most people here have a 200-300 point gap between standard and blitz. You're pretty much where you should be in blitz. Play more long games and your overall chess understanding will improve. Once you get better at standard, your blitz rating will follow.

Thanks for the tip.

Play longer time controls.

No Hewey. Did I say they were cheating? Are you on your rag?

No fit here. You were the one starting with the condescending remarks. The vague questions and vague answers remark, and the assuming that I think the 1400's are cheating. I don't think they are cheating, they just play really well against me. My original post simply asks for tips and advice on how to improve. I didn't ask for analysis on any one game. You know, " this is what I did to improve"  etc.

I'll start posting losses. This is a good idea.

I think I know what's going on here although it's hard to interpret tone in text.

It appears obvious to Huey Williams that you implied they were cheating because all of a sudden they start playing like grandmasters even though they were only rated around 1400.

It seemed equally obvious to Ufmgambit06 that he wasn't accusing those opponents of cheating, but said they started playing like grandmasters as an expression of how frustrating it felt from his point of view.

I  believe Huey Williams is right on the money about his suggestion for Ufmgambit to post a couple of his losses so that stronger players can possibly identify some weak areas ripe for improvement.

This kind of thing happens all the time due to the way the text doesn't carry vocal tone and I am willing to bet far more money than you are willing to pay for a coach that neither is menstruating. In fact, fellows, now would be the perfect time to be grateful we don't have that monthly friend. Hopefully the more intelligent and beautiful of the fairer sex will read this point I just made and recognize the man of her dreams can also respect women contrary to the pictures Hollywood paints of how the top dog must have character flaws to be human.

HueyWilliams has earned his respect here because of his strong play and willingness to help weaker players with his insights.

I can also appreciate the strength of character it  took for Ufm to swallow the ego and post asking for help, admitting that just like the rest of us, he doesn't have it all figured out either.

The proverb is true that entering into an argument that's not your own can be like trying to get in between two wild dogs fighting.

But my money is on the newer one, "Blessed are the peace makers."

We're all here for the game we enjoy. Let's put any misunderstanding behind us and see those couple of games, okay, Ufmgambit06?

Yea it's just a misunderstanding. Anyways, it's hard to pick which losses since there are so many and lol, so many more to come.

hi

Hi Robert.

I know the feeling Ufm!

People under your rating tend to be confused when they can't find tactics over the board, and mistakenly move pieces that break position.

Suggestion : Learn strategy.

And don't play any chess games during the time of learning, you can but 1-2 games a day is enough ( seriously, at least 6-7 months dedicated for learning strategy+tactics ), because if you do playing too much during this periode then your thinking patterns will be back to your old style of chess thinking, never improve.

Later on, when you come back ( you will gain about 150 - 350 ratings, depending on your time dedicated )

Source : My personal experience.

My current strength is about 1600-1650, I gained 200 ratings over 7 months, now I stop learning because I'm focusing on final year of college.

This is interesting. How did you go about learning strategy?

Just saw you have a diamond membership.

First thing I thought when I read QuiteNinja's helpful post above ^ is  it couldn't hurt to check this part of the study plan devoted to strategy! :

If there are any skills related to strategy you don't recognize as having already learned when reviewing the first strategy plan for (1200-1399) then that may be the key to your next breakthrough.

(Beginning strategy first):

https://www.chess.com/article/view/study-plan-for-beginners-strategy2

(Intermediate strategy):

https://www.chess.com/article/view/study-plan-for-intermediate-players-strategy2

This reminds me to review these because I pick up something new each time I review!

When I was at your rating, I underestimated strategy, because all I thought is that chess is just calculation (never consider position), but it changed when I learn t Mastering Chess Strategy- Johan hellsten (but this is a bit advanced, there were some basic strategies I learnt before this one).

Btw My blitz ratings here is about 1570, because I'm superbusy I play chess with a bit of 'hurry', because I do a lot of stuff in a day, not just chess. But if I play focus my blitz here could be reach even 1700.

I saw one of your blitz games which was 10/0 game. This is almost rapid game. After good opening you made terrible move which weakens all of you light squares. And you did not notice it until you got your knight pinned. But tactics are not your problem. You got angry and made agressive counterattacking move allowing your oponent to capture your rook. But after that, you got all in. Your opponent returned his bishop with tempo defending his position. Then you pushed your pawns in front of your king and after couple of moves you lost a knight and game was over.

Summary:

- You made Strategic/positional blunder.

- You overlooked tactic after that  due to poor understanding of position and how danger it was.

- You Went all in ignoring that bishop who took your knight (you could capture it and play with exchange down)

- You lost another piece for nothing and game was over.

Conclusion:

I don't think 10 min blitz is good time control. It gives you a illusion that you have a lot of time for thinking, but then if you are behind on clock and your opponent is moving fast you most likely will blunder, That can happen on any of us. Play 5/5 or 3/2 or 5 min games for blitz.

Or if can like play 15/10 or 25/10 min games or 30 min games. You won't lose endgames or you will have time to convert better endgames to wins.

Overall you have to improve your positional play and be less agressive player. It seems when you attack, you don't care much and you strike in the dark...

Thats all i can say for 1 game review.

Thanks for those links LTM! Alot material to work with.

Ok, I just reviewed the game you are talking about. The move you are referring to that weakened my light sqaures is very difficult for me to see that it weakened me, especially that the pin on my Knight happened several moves ahead. I hope I'm making sense.